Resources
At SUMM, our mission is to spark the love of math for all — not just for the people who visit the museum or attend one of our programs. We create and share resources that help bring math to life at home, in classrooms, and in everyday conversations. Whether you are a parent, educator, caregiver, lifelong learner, or just someone who has ever wondered “why does this matter?”, these materials are designed to make math more accessible, meaningful, and joyful.
From hands-on activities to conversation starters to deep dives into the math hidden in daily life, our goal is simple: help more people experience math as creative, human, and connected to the world around them.
Math in Real Life
“When am I ever going to use this?” Math in Real Life explores the deeper mathematical ideas behind the things humans experience every day. From patterns and probability to geometry, logic, scale, and data, these articles connect math concepts to the real world in ways that feel relevant and human.
You may never personally use every formula or calculation in your daily life — but someone does. The systems we rely on, the technology we use, the buildings we enter, the games we play, and the decisions we make are all shaped by mathematics. Understanding the math behind the world helps us better understand the world itself. Knowledge is power, and math is one of the tools humans use to make sense of what we see, build, and experience.
Talking Math
We know reading fluency grows through everyday exposure, conversation, and practice. Math fluency works the same way. Talking Math focuses on ways families and caregivers can naturally incorporate math into daily life through curiosity, conversation, storytelling, and shared experiences. These articles are designed especially for parents talking with kids about math, but the ideas extend far beyond childhood or classrooms.
Math is not just worksheets and right answers. It is noticing patterns, asking questions, estimating, reasoning, comparing, exploring, and wondering together. By making math part of ordinary conversations, we can help build confidence, comfort, and positive relationships with math — one small interaction at a time.
Ask a Mathematician
Have a math question you’ve always wondered about? Ask away! Ask a Mathematician is your chance to get answers from Nick, SUMM’s Mathematician in Residence. Explore responses to questions from other curious humans or submit your own question to be featured in a future article.
No question is too big, too small, too weird, or too practical. Why do prime numbers matter? How does infinity work? Is there really math behind music, sports, or baking? We’re here for all of it.
Puzzles
Our in-house puzzles are designed to spark curiosity, encourage creative problem-solving, and make mathematical thinking feel playful and rewarding. From quick logic challenges to deeper multi-step puzzles, these activities invite learners of all ages to experiment, notice patterns, test ideas, and persevere.
Jokes
Math is fun, and sometimes a little ridiculous. Explore math jokes, puns, riddles, and playful problems that celebrate the lighter side of mathematics. Whether you love groan-worthy punchlines or clever logic twists, this collection is here to spark laughter, curiosity, and maybe a few eye-rolls along the way.
Books
Looking for math-inspired books for yourself, your classroom, or the young learners in your life? This collection includes some of our favorite books that inspire curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, and mathematical thinking. From picture books and middle grade reads to puzzle collections and accessible deep dives into big ideas, these are stories and resources that help make math feel engaging, human, and alive. Whether you already love math or are still building confidence, there’s something here for every kind of reader.